Ayao Komatsu’s first year at Haas proves he’s the perfect person to take over at one F1 team in the future

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Ayao Komatsu was one of the most impressive Formula 1 bosses in 2024 after he managed to turn Haas profitable for the first time in their history.

It’s a massive boost for their long-term aspirations, with Komatsu able to maximise their use of the budget cap. They will be on a level playing field with their rivals at the top of the grid from a spending perspective.

Haas welcomes an exciting new driver pairing for 2025, after signing Ferrari’s promising young junior Oliver Bearman to a deal. He impressed as a stand-in for both Carlos Sainz and Kevin Magnussen last season and has a lot of talent.

Alongside him, they’ve acquired some race-winning experience by poaching Esteban Ocon from midfield rivals Alpine.

Komatsu has made it ‘perfectly clear’ Bearman and Ocon cannot crash at Haas and that there are clear rules of engagement for racing between the two.

Last year they finished seventh in the constructors’ championship, ending the year with what may have been considered the fifth-fastest car. They’re expected to be a contender for points at most races in 2025.

Why Ayao Komatsu would be a great addition to Ferrari’s F1 operation

Haas were headed for the back of the grid in 2023 and faced problems all over the show before deciding to fire Guenther Steiner.

Not only are they in better financial shape now, but they’re far improved on the track too. Komatsu has been stunned by Haas’ ‘incredible’ turnaround himself.

Coming from an engineering background, he placed a large emphasis on curing their tyre problems, which brought them into contention on a Sunday.

READ MORE: The amazing statistic that proves Haas beat their own not ‘good enough’ expectations in 2024

Before they would overheat the Pirelli rubber and drop off rapidly, leaving them quick over one lap, but nowhere throughout a Grand Prix.

In one year, he has demonstrated impressive levels of leadership and implemented true change to a team that was in desperate need of a shake-up.

Although Fred Vasseur is leading Ferrari’s charge very well currently, he’s 10 years older than Komatsu and isn’t expected to be around forever. Komatsu would be a very clever hire.

F1 fans think Guenther Steiner was the main problem at Haas after comments

Ever since joining the grid in 2016 under a technical partnership with Ferrari, Steiner was Haas’ leader and helped build the team alongside owner Gene Haas.

When his nine-year tenure came to an end before the 2024 season, his team had just finished rock bottom of the constructors’ standings.

Fans now think Steiner was the main problem at Haas after the team failed to establish themselves within the midfield during his time there.

READ MORE: Haas announce plans to do something for the first time in their F1 history with Oliver Bearman this week

He rose to fame during Netflix’s Drive to Survive series and became an instant fan favourite, but he will be absent from this year’s instalment when it drops on March 7.

Steiner has one condition for an F1 return and has refused to come back for the sake of fun. Haas aren’t regretting their decision to move on and could be a dark horse for their first podium in 2025.